New York in winter was beautiful. Crowded, and full of tourists, but what time of year wasn’t? Valentina’s refuge from sidewalk blocking gawkers and the constant flash of cameras was to escape Manhattan all together. She sat at the kitchen table with her father, sharing a cup of coffee in his small town home. The neighborhood was nice, but the house was small. The two front rooms, which should have been a living room and a dining room had been converted to a lobby, dance studio and a tiny office. Murroh’s wife, Ekaterina was a ballet instructor to girls of elementary school age. Sometimes it was hard to have a conversation over the pounding of Ekaterina’s cane or the classical music, but as Murroh explained they had a Christmas recital in less than a week.
Valentina’s life was in free fall. She had sold the penthouse, sold off the more art-fashion pieces of her wardrobe, and sold the large gaudy diamonds. She wanted to use that money to repay Murroh for those years of letting her live in high society, but he wouldn’t accept it. Murroh insisted that he’d only bought a home, Valentina made herself into the woman she was. Those words were meant with love and encouragement, but they wounded Valentina. Since her conversation with Eli back in August, she didn’t know what her life was about. He’d help set her on a journey, but she still didn’t know where she was going.
Valentina had made changes, walking away from her extravagant life, trying to be more modest, but it felt as false as living in society. She was currently staying in a hotel while she decided what to do. Moving away from New York, maybe even away from America was still tempting option. Maybe to start fresh she really did need to completely start over. Her father had changed his life, and hadn’t taken such drastic measures. That’s why she’d come to see him.
Murroh sat quietly, sipping his coffee. He’d been acting strange recently. Both Valentina and Ekaterina suspected that he might have started drinking again. He’d relapsed badly two years ago, while Valentina was discovering that he had been lying to her about being her biological father. She was mad at first, but quickly forgave him. She preferred a live fake father over a real dead one. Valentina hoped he hadn’t succumbed to alcoholism again. He was so happy with Ekaterina, and she didn’t want to think he was that selfish.
“Leibe tried calling me again.” Valentina complained, trying to engage Murroh in conversation. So far everything had been a non-starter. One word answers to shallow questions.
“I thought you said you weren’t going to talk to her anymore.” Murroh finally replied with something Valentina could use. He’d already been briefed on the complicated dynamic between Leibe, Billy Duke and Valentina, as well as Elijah and Viktoriya. He had not been happy to hear about some of the trouble his daughter had caused. Maybe that was why he was being so quiet with her.
“Well, I’m not. That’s why I didn’t answer.” Valentina said, defensively.
She was not in a good place with her former best friend either. When Viktoriya went into labor, Valentina and Billy Duke left. They took a train to the nearest city with an airport, and she told him that she’d pay for a plane ticket to wherever he wanted. He picked California, to be home with his family. Valentina returned to New York. But it wasn’t long until the drama followed her home. Billy was still cut off from his family, and returned to New York shortly after Valentina did. He was quick to try to get into some one’s good graces. When he got nowhere with Valentina, he returned to Leibe, and for some foolish reason, he told her everything, including sleeping with Valentina. Now Leibe was furious with both of them, and wouldn’t stop calling Valentina.
“Did you explain yourself to her?” Murroh asked. He also knew everything about the affair, and didn’t approve.
“Well, no. I didn’t really want to talk about it.” Valentina absently sipped her coffee.
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Looking For The Light (Book 2)
ParanormalElijah's life has been thrown for a loop. His girlfriend left him, he's leaving his home behind, and setting off into the unknown. Doubting his mission and himself, the young telepath struggles with many of the great questions of life.
